Newbie question - planning my second batch

[timmy]

Hi all,

I've got my first brew in my new fermenter (Coopers Original Ale), and am planning my second. I'm a big fan of the wheat beers (Witbier, Hoegaarden, etc), so does anyone have suggestions as to the best wheat beer kit that I should try? Ideally it would be a simple one (I don't want to start faffing around with extra ingredients until I know what I'm doing...), and one that would be readily available from HB shops in Melbourne.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Tim

[pixelboy]

EDIT: Your welcome to try my recipie but its been tested and improved.. this is the latest version!

My fav Wheat/Hoegaarden requires some fiddling but its easy mate ....

1. Thomas Coopers Brewmaster Selection WHEAT BEER
2. Thomas Coopers Wheat Extract 1.5kg
3. Rind from 2 Oranges
4. 15gms (one pack) Corriander Seeds

Method
1. Take the rind of the Orange's being carefull not to get any of the pith (soft white part). You can use a fine cheese grater.
2. Crush the corriander seeds
3. Empty contents of the Malt Wheat Extract, the orange rind and crushed corriander seeds into LARGE clean saucepan and add a litre or two of water. Stir and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stiring occasionally, for 20mins.
4. Strain contents into a sterilised fermenter with the contents of the beer can.
5. Top up with cold water (or hot) to 23litres stiring well trying to get it to about 22c-26c then pitch yeast.
6. Give it 2 weeks @ 20c and rack or bottle.

Its a ripper! Was my 3rd brew and I havent matched it yet. Ill be doing exactly the same when I return from NZ in a fortnight.

Trust me.. Its not that hard... and it will taste great.

[timmy]

Thanks!!!!

Almost tempted to tip out the existing brew so I can get this going.....

How long should you bottle condition it for??

[pixelboy]

Youll need 2-3 weeks at least in the bottle so it can carb up ok. If your using the plastic bottles carb drops are ok but ive found that two carb drops aint enuf for 750ml glass longnecks (Im gunna have to start bulk priming).

But it will improve for 6months. I had one the other day that was about 5 months old now.. it was tops. My wifes thinks im mad.. ohhing and ahhing over a beer.

Ive only got 2 bottles of this batch left.

[rwh]

Sounds great! I've never done a wheat, so this one sounds like a goer

[Stuart]

I've done this one as well...

Really tasty beer!

[Sathias]

Look into the Summer Wheat beer sold by The Country Brewer as well

[muddy]

I have done this exact recipe and it is awesome. Have done blind tastings with Hoegaarden and mine could only be picked by a slightly darker colour and a slightly creamier mouthfeel.

This beer is about 4 months in the bottle now and gets better each time I drink one.

Highly recommended.

cheers

Muddy

[NTRabbit]

Try steeping 0.5-1kg of Torrefied wheat and then adding the liquid to your boil, that adds the missing mouthfeel

[rwh]

Sounds like interesting stuff:

Torrefied wheat has been "popped" in a manner similar to popping corn. The high temperature used when popping explodes the endosperm of the grain and gelatinizes the starch allowing the enzymes in malted barley to break down those starches. Torrefied wheat can be used in the mash tun directly without any pre-treatment. Torrefied wheat is a commonly used adjunct in British and Scottish beers. Many British beers use up to 10% torrefied wheat to give the beer an exceptional creamy head and slightly nutty taste. The notable Scottish ale MacAndrew's is also known to use torrefied wheat to give the beer it's exceptional depth of character.

Torrefied wheat must be mashed, so extract brewers must include some 2-row or 6-row barley when steeping the grains. You must also be sure to allow for a rest of approximately one hour at temperatures near 150° F.

[MrDave]

Sounds like interesting stuff:

Not unless you cut some bananas up on it and sprinkle some sultanas on.
Torrefied wheat is Puffed Wheat breakfast cereal.

[Adzmax]

What yeast is best to use with this one? The kit yeast or something else?

[lethaldog]

Hi all,

I've got my first brew in my new fermenter (Coopers Original Ale), and am planning my second. I'm a big fan of the wheat beers (Witbier, Hoegaarden, etc), so does anyone have suggestions as to the best wheat beer kit that I should try? Ideally it would be a simple one (I don't want to start faffing around with extra ingredients until I know what I'm doing...), and one that would be readily available from HB shops in Melbourne.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Tim

Hey tim check this one out if you like hoegaarden

Blackrock whispering wheat
dried wheat malt 1 kg
15g corriander
2 tablespoons orange peel zest
safwheat yeast ( k-97)
final volume 21 litres

have fun with it m8

[pixelboy]

What yeast is best to use with this one? The kit yeast or something else?

The kit yeast or a Wheat Yeast..

The one I use is "Brew Cellar Wheat Beer Yeast" from my LHBS

[timmy]

I put this one down last night....

Smells fantastic straight out of the fermenter.

btw - I was in my local HBS on the weekend and he had a Hoegaarden-clone brew kit. I can't recall the brand, but it was in a box that apparently contained the concentrate and probably some malt extract. It specifically mentioned Hoegaarden on the box too (don't know how legal that is...). Has anyone heard/tried this?

Cheers,

Tim

[drtom]

Sounds like brewcraft to me. The have a number of clone kits like that.

It'll probably make a nice enough beer, but don't get your hopes up too much about it being a faithful clone.

Besides, if you go to an asian or middle eastern grocer, you can pick up coriander seeds for about 1/100th of the price that you'd be paying for them in the kit.

T.

[timmy]

I've got pixelboy's recipe in the fermenter since Sunday night but the fermentation seems to be very slow, even at 20-22 degrees.

Am I right in assuming that using the malt extract instead of brewing sugars will slow the fermentation down??

Cheers,

Tim

[timmy]

Looks like fermentation is finished.....

The OG/FG was about ~1080/1016 - does this sound right???

Pretty bloody strong if that's the case.

But it tasted fantastic straight out of the hydro jar.

Hmmmmm....

Cheers,

Tim

[rwh]

Heh, I did this one a couple of days ago. got an OG of 1.110! Hehehe them's the results of not stirring your brew properly!

[pixelboy]

Yeah Im not sure if your figures are spot on timmy but Id leave it in primary for 14 days and then rack to secondary for another 14.

Im not a big one for numbers myself... I just give it plenty of time and enjoy it